Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee

Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submitted by:

I am a sole trader speech pathologist providing community-based services to children and families across metropolitan Sydney and surrounding regions. My work is primarily with preschool and primary school-aged children with developmental delay, autism, developmental language disorder, intellectual disability, childhood apraxia of speech and complex communication needs, including children who use AAC.

I support the objective of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NDIS and recognise the importance of maintaining a scheme that remains available for future generations. However, I am concerned about several practical implementation issues and unintended consequences that may arise from the proposed reforms.

From a frontline perspective, many families already experience significant barriers accessing timely assessment, intervention and support. Waitlists remain lengthy across many services, particularly for speech pathology, psychology and occupational therapy. Families often seek support during critical developmental periods where delays in intervention can have long-term impacts on communication, participation and educational outcomes.

One area of concern is the proposed tightening of eligibility requirements and increased reliance on functional capacity assessments. While consistency is important, there is a risk that some children with genuine developmental and communication needs may experience delays accessing support while new systems, assessments and eligibility pathways are established. Children with developmental language disorder, autism, developmental delay and emerging communication difficulties often do not fit neatly into categories and may present differently across environments and stages of development. Early support is often most effective before difficulties become entrenched.

I am also concerned about proposed limitations on participant-requested reassessments. Children’s developmental needs can change rapidly, particularly during early childhood and key educational transitions. While safeguards against unnecessary reassessments are understandable, it is important that families can access responsive review processes when support needs genuinely change.

The proposed reforms also appear to assume that alternative systems of support will be available and accessible. In practice, many families already experience difficulty accessing publicly funded services due to workforce shortages, geographical barriers

and lengthy waitlists. Any reduction in NDIS access should be carefully staged alongside the establishment of well-resourced alternative supports.

As a provider working within homes, schools, preschools and community settings, I regularly see the benefits of flexible and responsive intervention. Families often rely on a combination of NDS-funded services, educational supports and community-based services to meet their child’s needs. Reducing flexibility within the system may place additional pressure on families, schools and already stretched mainstream services.

I am also concerned about the broader workforce implications of the proposed reforms. Private practices currently deliver a significant proportion of developmental and disability supports across Australia. Many small and medium providers support children who are pre-diagnosis, newly diagnosed and receiving ongoing intervention. If substantial numbers of providers experience reduced demand or increased uncertainty, there is a risk of workforce attrition, business closures and reduced service availability. This would ultimately reduce capacity across the entire support system.

These impacts may be particularly significant in regional, rural and underserved communities where service availability is already limited. Telehealth has improved access for many families, but telehealth alone cannot replace all aspects of assessment, intervention and community-based support.

While much discussion focuses on early childhood supports, I am also concerned about potential impacts on older children and adolescents. Many providers rely on a mixed caseload across age groups to remain viable. Reduced sustainability of paediatric services may affect access to supports for children over 9 years of age who continue to require assistance with communication, literacy, social participation and independence.

The long-term consequences of reduced access to developmental supports are likely to extend beyond the disability sector. Difficulties with communication and participation can affect educational engagement, mental health, community participation and future employment opportunities. Families, schools and local communities often absorb the impacts when children are unable to access appropriate supports.

Recommendations

• Ensure implementation of alternative support systems and Foundational Supports occurs before significant restrictions to NDIS access take effect.

• Maintain accessible pathways for reassessment where children’s support needs have genuinely changed.

• Monitor workforce impacts on private providers and small businesses delivering developmental and disability services.

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4.

Recognise the important role of private providers within the broader ecosystem of supports and maintain opportunities for their participation.

5.

Ensure regional, rural and underserved communities are not disproportionately impacted by service reductions or workforce shortages.

6.

Continue meaningful consultation with families, frontline clinicians, educators and community-based providers throughout implementation of the reforms.

Conclusion

I support the goal of creating a sustainable NDIS for future generations. However, sustainability should not come at the expense of timely access to developmental supports, continuity of care or the stability of the workforce that currently supports children and families across Australia.

Careful implementation, realistic transition planning and ongoing consultation will be critical to ensuring that reforms achieve their intended objectives without creating unintended barriers for children, families and communities.

Kind regards,

Speech and Language Pathologist